Oh, Pioneers!

Laura Ingalls Wilder is my homegirl. As a kid, I often snuck a flashlight under the sheets and read Little House on the Prairie books for hours after my parents had gone to bed. I can still imagine the oily tang of freshly laid tar paper on the Ingalls’ lean-to cabin or the coolness of the mud walls from the dugout next to Plum Creek.

Houston magazine co-hosted a fête to celebrate the grand opening of Gold & Silver Buyers’ 50th location, situated in a buzzy spot inside the Galleria. The new place is a milestone for owners Amelia and Brian Culwell, who founded the company just three years ago and have been doing a brisk business all the while. Guests mixed and mingled with the Culwells—who were on hand to tour them around the new storefront—while indulging in some sensational sips from Naked Winery and munching on bites from Demeris Catering. Photos by Logan Beck

Family-run for seven generations, Zadok Jewelers was the sparkling host for a pair of bauble-filled trunk shows. A two-day bridal-centric Tacori trunk show, themed “Hollywood Comes to Houston,” featured more than 500 rings and a chance to win a one-of-a-kind mixed gold-and-silver necklace. … Isaac Levy, founder of Yvel fine jewelry, made a personal appearance to celebrate Yvel’s 25th anniversary. Guests perused his exclusive line of pastel pearls, unique sapphires and gold trinkets as they sipped wine and mingled with Levy at the Uptown Park store.

A trio of décor-centric events began with Kitchen & Bath Concepts. After a design conference in Las Vegas, designers shared the latest trends from electric mirrors to waterproof wooden countertops. ... Covington Builders hosted “Build Toward the Future” at The Patio on Mercer, where clients and local real estate agents joined biz owner Robert Covington for wines from Realm Cellars and hors d’oeuvres by Campbell’s Catering. ...

Beyond Beefcake

Like most 6-foot-2 models with an eight-pack, Chris Knighton, 29, never thought he was special. “I tagged along with my buddy four years ago to an acting class,” the Canadian remembers of his first trip to the Neal Hamil agency, where he’s now the top model. “Some girl was, like, ‘Hey, you want to model?’ I thought she was blowing smoke.”

THE PARTY Hundreds turned out for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois’ 25th anniversary Wish Ball at the UIC Forum. THE PLAYERS Emceed by Richard Roeper, the black-tie gala featured a special performance by Dennis Miller. After a cocktail hour with specialty drinks and tastings, guests enjoyed a seated dinner by Blue Plate Catering in the ballroom.

If These Walls Could Talk

Five Houston homes—from a lean, green Bellaire beauty bought by a duo of daring docs, to a regal River Oaks manse fixed to fetch mega-millions—tell the tale of H-Town real estate now. Plus: the market, by the numbers!